There was little for us to complain about during our testing. The
Tallboy has a solid build kit, right down to the tire choice. Some
riders will want to swap out the stock flat bars for a set of risers,
especially if they intend to do more aggressive trail riding. Riders
looking to shed a little weight may want to opt for the upgrade
to carbon wheels if they are willing to spend a little coin. This
upgrade isn’t a must, but it will add a little extra performance.

BUYING ADVICE

Bikes have become more versatile in the last year, with more
companies using Boost spacing to allow riders to swap wheel sizes
on the same frames. The Tallboy is no XC race bike; it leans heavily towards the trail side of things but has a versatile geometry that
won’t leave riders feeling too committed to one style of riding. If
the carbon versions are a little expensive for you, you can find the
same versatility in the aluminum versions at lower price points. ❏

Sturdy and stout: The Fox 34 is one of the best trail forks on
the market, with a competitive weight and stable platform. Both
versions of the Tallboy come stock with this fork, available in
either 120 or 130 millimeters of travel.

How do you want it? The revamped Tallboy was built around
29 or 27.5-inch-plus wheels, with the front suspension getting
an extra 10mm on the wider wheels. We spent plenty of time
on both. Most of our test riders preferred the 29er wheels, but
liked the versatility of having the second option.